How do people get on with HID, only reason I ask was when enquiring about HID i was warned not to put on the high beam as there is a delay in them lighting up. Has anyone noticed this, CheersSomething to do with it working like a florescent tube rather than an element.

At first it flashes (ignition of gas), then it turns on to about the brightness of halogen while warming up to about three times the brightness of halogen. I had HID on both low and high beam, the HID on high beam does make the "pass" flash effect slightly less. So if I wanted to get noticed, I would just switch high beam on. Within a few seconds the lighthouse would light up their whole interior, so you definitely get noticed. Once the bulb has been warmed up (it's still about three times cooler than halogen in that case), you can use it for flashing off and on to max brightness instantly. I did not see any significant disadvantage of having both bulbs fitted, not significant enough at least to outweigh the huge advantage (a LOT of light all the way to the horizon).

The Pan has two H4 bulbs, so now I have two times low and instant high HID. The high beam in that case works by means of a magnetic switch that uncovers the bottom part of the bulb for high beam. You can see the bottom part of the reflector (for high beam) is blocked in the next pic, as well as the higher aim to the right side of the road:

I'm thinking of HIDing too. What is the wattage of the kit 35 or 50? I've been told the 50 is about the same again better than the 35 is over standard. Was thinking if i'm gonna do it I may as well get the best!

Average HIDS replacement unit pulls approx 30watts. Light output is equivalent to what you would get from an 80watt Halogen source, but you will lose a lot because reflector is not designed for the longer 'bulb'.HIDS unit runs cooler, so less power is wasted as heat.

HiI've been studying your pictures as I intend to upgrade to HID lights on my TDM900Abs and you make it all seem pretty straightforward - time will tell!! I have noticed in your pictures that you have crash bars fitted - can you tell me which ones you have as they look fairly effective? They would have saved me over 160 quid when my bike blew off the side stand in the gales back in December and did the left side fairing no good at all. Hoping you can helpBest regards, oldfogey

HiI've been studying your pictures as I intend to upgrade to HID lights on my TDM900Abs and you make it all seem pretty straightforward - time will tell!! I have noticed in your pictures that you have crash bars fitted - can you tell me which ones you have as they look fairly effective? They would have saved me over 160 quid when my bike blew off the side stand in the gales back in December and did the left side fairing no good at all. Hoping you can helpBest regards, oldfogey

Hi Oldfogey, i don't suppose you used to ride a Transalp and wandered round the world fer a year or 2 ???? cheers Wicky

Hi wickyno, sorry but nothing that adventurous! Been using an XS650 Special that I bought from Roy Anthony in 1980, when he had a workshop on The Quay at Exeter, up until April 2008. It was going to see me out until I draw my wooden overcoat and then my son suggested a trip around the Pyrenees last August and that's when I changed over to my TDM900. I'm still trying to catch up with new technology!! Maybe bump into you at Bridge in Exeter sometime.Regards, oldfogey.

Hey, just fitted HID's on my TDM 900. They work ok, one problem though. When I turn on the ignition the low beam lights up (with the headlight switch on), but when I start the engine they turn off and don't come on again unless I flick the light switch off and on again. Of course I could always teach myself to turn the lights off before I shut the engine and turn them on again when I've started her, but I'm sure I'll forget and just ride around without lights most of the time. Can I change the lights so that they don't turn on with the ignition, but after engine startup? I guess this can be done by adding a few relays?

Sorry to be a pain guys but VOSA now say that HID conversions on bikes won't pass the MOT test. I have one, and whilst the beam pattern on our beamchecker is on the weird side (and wouldn't pass btw) I never get flashed by oncoming roadusers (???). And, the vision increase is superb. So, be warned that the best you can hope for is for your sympathetic tester to make a 'mask' to legalise the pattern while not realising you have HID, and passing by 'PRS'. Or plugging in your H7 once a year, your choice.